Central Falls City Council December Meeting Passes "Community Policing and Immigration" Ordinance
On December 9th, 2019, the Central Falls City Council formally passed the “Community Policing and Immigration” ordinance. The Ordinance provides protections to the undocumented community in Central Falls by legally limiting the collaboration of local enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
A draft ordinance, created by the ALCU, was first sent to the Central Falls City Council in August 2019 by the Immigrant Coalition of Rhode Island. After tailoring the proposed ordinance to fit the needs of the Central Falls community, Councilperson Jessica Vega submitted the legislation in October.
Coalition member Planned Parenthood of Southern New England testified in support of the ordinance at the November 13th reading. PPSNE believes healthcare should have no borders. Creating section 2-333, the “Community Policing and Immigration” ordinance creates equal accessibility to essential community resources and services while promoting public safety.
Progreso Latino, a non-profit located in Central Falls and ICRI member, actively engages with mixed status families in their work. They understand firsthand the importance of codifying protections for immigrants, whom they service daily. “Central Falls, which has a large immigrant population, will see several positive impacts from this resolution such as strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the community (which builds trust and community cohesion), allowing community members to receive vital services and contribute to the economy without fear, adding protections for victims of crimes, and solidifying immigrant protections that every community should have,” says David Veliz, Policy Advocate for Progreso Latino.
The “Community Policing and Immigration” ordinance promotes public safety and allows undocumented residents of Central Falls to utilize local law enforcement services and protections without fear of detainment or deportation. The passage of this ordinance sets a precedent for immigrant rights organizers to engage with other municipalities to pass similar protections for undocumented Rhode Islanders.